devalue
価値を下げる
解説 Definition
devalue は、価値を下げる、評価を落とすという意味です。通貨や資産の価値を下げる場合にも、人や仕事の重要性を低く見る場合にも使われます。
To devalue something is to reduce its monetary worth, official exchange value, perceived importance, or social esteem. The verb can describe action affecting currencies and property or figurative treatment that makes a person’s work seem less valuable.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
de-「下げる・取り去る」+ value「価値」と分ければ、「価値を下げる」がそのまま見えます。devalue a currency は通貨の公定価値を引き下げる、devalue a house は資産価値を落とす、devalue someone's work は仕事を軽視する用法です。単なる値下げの discount より、価値や評価そのものの低下に焦点があります。
Split devalue into de-, suggesting reduction or removal, and value. The structure directly gives the idea “reduce the value.” Learn three typical objects: a government may devalue a currency, neglect may devalue a house, and dismissive treatment may devalue someone’s work. This last use concerns respect or perceived importance, not a price. Contrast devalue with discount: a shop can discount an item by lowering its selling price, while devalue more broadly means causing its monetary worth, official value, or status to fall. Valuable and valuation help anchor the shared value family.
例文
The policy may devalue the local currency.
その政策は現地通貨の価値を下げる可能性があります。
Poor maintenance can devalue an old house quickly.
手入れが悪いと、古い家の価値はすぐに下がります。
Managers should not devalue the work of support staff.
管理職はサポートスタッフの仕事を低く評価すべきではありません。
devalue の類義語・関連語
対義語
紛らわしい語
devalue の語源・成り立ち Etymology
接頭辞 de-（下へ、除去）＋ value（価値、ラテン語 valēre「強い・価値がある」）。通貨の公定価値を引き下げる意味で20世紀に広まった。関連語: evaluate（評価する）、valuable（貴重な）。語根 val- は「力・価値」を表す。
Devalue was formed in English from the prefix de-, carrying the sense of lowering or removing, and value. Value came through Old French from Latin valere, meaning “to be strong, be well, or be worth.” The verb became particularly prominent in twentieth-century economic discussion for an official reduction in a currency’s value relative to other currencies or a standard. Its figurative use extends the same structure to importance, esteem, and human contribution.
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